Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart Is So Important That WWE Is Inducting Their Match into the Hall of Fame

Very few matches in WWE history define a WWE Superstar throughout the rest of their careers. Whether it's a specific spot in the match itself, or a moment post-match that captures the audience or creates controversy, it's rare that an entire match, from beginning to end, generates a legacy for performers.

One match in particular, the first inductee into WWE's new Hall of Fame section of "Immortal Moments", defines the careers of both men, whose careers were forever altered by their match in 1997. When baby face Bret Hart squared off against heel "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13, it altered the course of professional wrestling and both men's careers, resulting in the best double turn in wrestling history and the unofficial beginning of The Attitude Era.

The Hitman and The Rattlesnake: A Quick History

How We Got Here And Why It Mattered

1997 was a transitional time for WWE, as WCW had gained the upper hand against Vince McMahon with the addition of the nWo, catapulted by Hulk Hogan's surprising and unforeseen heel turn, coupled with a significant segment of fans who were looking for a product that was more real and gritty than the gimmicky, goofy characters WWE was producing and found it in a small Philadelphia promotion known as ECW. While Bret Hart and Steve Austin were positioned as two of the top guys in the company, Sycho Sid, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels were also jockeying for position, and a slow but visible change was occurring: Bret Hart was becoming less the white meat baby face and more of the jaded man on a mission to right wrongs, and Steve Austin was getting cheered by the fans for his loud, brash anti-establishment edge.

Hart, the reigning WWE Champion, was attacked by Austin, who blamed Hart for his loss during the four corners elimination match at In Your House 13: Final Four, and cost him the championship to Sycho Sid on the February 17, 1997 episode of Monday Night Raw. Hart and Austin were headed towards a collision course and the match was scheduled for WrestleMania 13 as a submission match with UFC's Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee.

The Submission Match - WrestleMania's Best

Nothing Else Comes Close To This Match On The Card

The sixth match on the card, it was clocked as the longest match of WrestleMania 13 at 22 minutes and 5 seconds, and started with a bang as Austin attacked Hart before he was even out of his entrance gear. The match spilled in and out of the ring, as both men utilized the steel guard rails, steel chairs, and the ring bell to inflict maximum damage, as well as blood from Austin. The level of intensity and violence was a rare occurrence for WWE programming at the time, as evidenced by the rest of the card that featured performers with antiquated 1980s-style comic gimmicks like Henry O. Godwinn and The Sultan.

After trading Sharpshooter submission locks, Hart finally got Austin in the Sharpshooter as blood poured from Austin's forehead and Ken Shamrock, the guest referee of the match, continued to ask him whether he was giving up. Austin, from both the blood loss and the submission, passed out in the ring, leading Shamrock to end the match and provide the win to Hart.

Hart was relentless, however, and continued to attack Austin after the match was called, leading Shamrock to deliver a belly-to-back suplex to Hart and a showdown between the men. Hart relented, but the crowd turned on him due to his callousness and his attack on Austin, who received loud cheers from the fans and then delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to referee Mike Chioda before exiting the ring.

The Beginning of The Attitude Era

The Fallout Altered Wrestling History

Outside its technical brilliance, Bret Hart and Steve Austin's match was most notable as the beginning of needed and shocking changes in WWE programming. After the match, Hart leaned into the new heel persona, lamenting both the company and the fans for not standing behind as he was continually screwed, which led to the reformation of The Hart Foundation, and Austin's trajectory to becoming the biggest face of the Attitude Era was kicked into high gear.

The ripple effects from the match extended all the way through WWE, leading to the formation of D-Generation X, The Ministry of Darkness, and eventually WWE's win over WCW in the Monday Night Wars. Hart, having left the company after the controversial "Montreal Screwjob" to sign with WCW, never regained the level of prominence he once had, and found himself more creatively frustrated. Austin, however, was the biggest benefactor of the match, becoming the WWE Champion and the face of WWE through the Attitude Era.

Our Take on Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin's Match from WrestleMania 13

The Best WrestleMania Match of All Time

In a company that has some of the greatest moments in wrestling history, it's hard to argue against Bret Hart and Steve Austin's match from WrestleMania 13 being the inaugural inductee into the "Immortal Moment" section of the WWE Hall of Fame. A technical masterpiece, it's regarded among its participants and wrestling historians as the greatest WrestleMania match ever.

From its technicality to its fallout, the match itself did more to advance and elevate WWE programming, and the company as a whole, than any other moment just prior to the beginning of the Attitude Era. Arguably the most important match of its time, and possibly the company's existence, there's no better match to honor the legacy of the Attitude Era than this.